Georgian health authorities confirm first 2023 cases of Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever
Tsertsvadze also emphasised the importance of receiving treatment at the onset of clinical symptoms in preventing progression of the illness, and called family doctors and clinics to refer all patients with symptoms to specialised referral facilities with extensive experience of relevant treatment. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Georgian health authorities confirmed the first cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in the country this year on Tuesday, with eight confirmed patients admitted to medical facilities with the condition.
Tengiz Tsertsvadze, the Director of the Centre for Infectious Diseases and AIDS, said in a social media post all eight patients admitted to the facility had been treated, with six already discharged.
He added the cases had been mainly recorded in the central-eastern Shida Kartli and south-west Samtskhe-Javakheti regions.
He also called the fever “one of the most severe diseases” due to the high 10-40 percent lethality rate, and said high fever, headaches, joint and muscle pain, abdominal pain, dizziness, vomiting and redness of mucous membranes were among the symptoms.
Tsertsvadze said the cases in Georgia were endemic and transmitted by ticks from animals, pets in particular.
He also emphasised the importance of receiving treatment at the onset of clinical symptoms in preventing progression of the illness, and called family doctors and clinics to refer all patients with symptoms to specialised referral facilities with extensive experience of relevant treatment.
Georgian Health Minister Zurab Azarashvili on Monday said the Ministry would finance "year-long medication needs" for oncology patients and was in talks with drug manufacturers.
The Georgian National Competition Agency on Monday said it had started inspecting four companies in the Georgian pharmaceutical market following “sharp increase” by them in prices of medicines for chronic and oncological illnesses.
Georgia’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has released a special statement voicing several recommendations for people to take care against insects and contagious diseases during the summer season.
Three people have died from Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and 12 further cases have been confirmed in Georgia, say experts.
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